Arabian Gallery

Architectural decoration in the Alhambra, (1898). Creator: Unknown

Architectural decoration in the Alhambra, (1898). Moresque - Architectural Ornament - Spain is the country, where the Islamitic art found its purest and most beautiful development in the buildings of the Moorish kings, for instance, in the palace of Alhambra near Granada (13th and 14th century). Especially with the Moors, Mahomedan ornamentation reached its culminating point. Figs 2-10 represent mouldings and wall surfaces executed in stucco and painted...The Moorish artists knew how to produce wonderful effects by artfully interlacing and twisting the geometrical and arabesque ornaments...we find two...and sometimes even three systems of ornaments...worked into each other...'. Plate 28 from "The Historic Styles of Ornament" translated from the German of H. Dolmetsch. [B.T. Batford, London, 1898]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Islamic illuminated manuscripts, (1898). Creator: Unknown

Islamic illuminated manuscripts, (1898). Decoration from: Fig 1: an Arabian Koran, 14th century. Figs 2 and 3: an Arabian Koran, 16th century. Figs 4 and 5: a Moorish Koran, 18th century. Figs 6 and 7: an Arabian Koran, 16th century. Figs 8-10: an Arabian Koran, 17th century. Figs 11 and 12: a Moorish Koran, 18th century...in their paintings on parchment the Arabian artists show special skill in surface decoration. Scroll work, rigidly idealised, alternates with geometrical figures, or else the arabesque ornament fills the compartments formed by the lines and bands. In this manner whole pages are painted in many Koran manuscripts...The writing itself is in most cases bordered and surrounded with rosettes and freezes, which are filled in with ever new combinations of lines and foliage. The splendid and at the same time harmonious effect of this illumination arises principally from the exquisite arrangement of the colours, the brilliancy of which is still enhanced by a profuse employment of gold'. Plate 25 from "The Historic Styles of Ornament" translated from the German of H. Dolmetsch. [B.T. Batford, London, 1898]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Lawrence of Arabia, early 20th century

Lawrence of Arabia, early 20th century. Thomas Edward Lawrence, (1888-1935), most famously known as Lawrence of Arabia, gained international renown for his role as a British liaison officer during the Arab Revolt of 1916 to 1918. His very public image was in some part the result of U.S. traveller and journalist Lowell Thomas's sensationalised reportage of the Revolt, as well as Lawrence's autobiographical account, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Many Arabs consider him a folk hero for promoting their cause for freedom from both Ottoman and European rule; likewise, many Britons count him among their country's greatest war heroes. (Colourised black and white print)

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